Hair Combing Ritual 上头 (Shang Tou) for Teochew and Hokkien

Shang Tou is not just about hair dressing for the wedding, it is also the coming of age for the wedding couple. After the ceremony, the wedding couple are considered to be adults.

In each of their respective home, the groom and bride shower themselves with pomegranate leaves soaked in water and put on a pair of new pyjamas. Note that the groom has to perform the ceremony at least 15 minutes before the bride.

The ceremony is conducted by a good fortune lady or man. The ritual is preferred to be performed next to a window where moon is visible, so that the lunar god of fate, Yue Lao 月佬 could watch over the couple. The red string used at the ritual, symbolized the string of fate, which Yue Lao tie on couples destined to be together.
At the end of the ritual, serve glutinous rice ball (pink) soup with red dates and lotus to the couple. For the Teochews, they serve 2 eggs with mee sua to the wedding couple.

Items used for the ritual at Groom’s
• 1 ruler
• 1 mirror
• 1 piece of red string (to be tied on the groom at the end of the ceremony)
• 1 pointed comb

Item used for ritual at Bride’s
• 1 ruler
• 1 mirror
• 1 piece of red string (to be tied on the groom at the end of the ceremony)
• 1 rounded comb